Airship.



H. TH'ADEN.

AIRSHI?.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. zo. 190e.

9769709, Patented mm2, `191.0.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. THADEN. AIRSHIP. AFPLIGA'TION FILED Nov. zo, 1969( 976,709. Patented Nome, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

:33 me/whoa 341 mii/hingen i I. v

H. THADEN.

4 ,AIRSHIR v APPLIGATION FILED NOY'. 20. .1909.

' 5 SHEETS-SHBET 5.

A Toellwhom'itlmey ."Be't lmown that I, "HERMAN THADEN, a.'

Unrrnn A STATES HERMAN THADEN, or ATLANTA, esonera.

ference.' i

citizen of the United.- States,v residin at Atlanta, in the `county of Fulton and tate of Georgia, haveinvented certain new and -useful Improvements in Airships; and I do if hereby ('declare. the following to be a full,

" clear, and exact description of the' invention,

such as will enable others skilled inthe. art to which-it appertains to make and use 'the ',samef v This invention relates to- -improvements in ,air' ships, and particularly to Aair ships vhavi' Number 465,598, filedfnecembere, 19o8.

' provision of planes and movableshutters for' ing lifting meansand sustaining planes co operating -withpopelling means, and is an improvement 'of my' :co-pending application,

f. fcontrolling the sustaining power thereof. 25

. A ,further obiectoft einvention is :the

v determining whether'orlnot' air willbepertermined.

mitt'ed to engage' ,the respective planes,4 whereby the sustaining action'of the planes?x are varied andthe course of the ship `c le A stillA furtherlobject o`f thef;invention. is' the arrangement in an Vair.jfshipgf 1u#y ralit-y of lifting and ropllngameans 81556;: ciated-/with a contro ling-lever'mechanism for varying the act-ion'of the 'bladesl 'A With these and other objectsfinviewtlie? invention comprises certain Vnovell con stm 1c`" tions, combinations, and 'arrangemetjfpf parts as will be hereinafter morefully 4def scribed and clai'med.-' g

In the accompanyingdrawings: 1 is a side elevation of an air ship embodying the .invent-ion. Fig. vZis'a'top plan view of .A fragmentary longitudinalscctional view, ap-

a detailfragmentary perspective f, view j. o f

' in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 'is' a side elevation 'of leverV controlling"means. ..Fig. 7 is a fralgnientary' longtudinal sectional :view: through the ip eeaal f letters Patent -,Patented Nov. 22, 1910. Apgucmon november 20,1909.' serrant. ananas.

" 'Y ig.A 9isba sectional view qthroilgh Fig; 7, ap-

proximately on. line 9-9.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 'b y'numerals, l'indicates aframework conslsting of uprights, cross bars, longitudinal bars, and bracing means for holding the various moving parts correctly in position, and for forming a bodyT forvthe ship.

'.Mounted in the" framework 1 in any de- `sired manner is an engine 2 of any desired ,kind, which vprovides power for vthe lifting and propellingpart's.

Mounted upon lframework 1 near the 'top areV rotatable-hollow shafts 3 and 4 each of which 4carr a reciprocating and revolving shaft -5.` C ains 6 and .7 convey power from engine 2 shafts Sand 4, from which the v -Theobject'in View is the.arrangementin'.

s f 'an airship, of a 1lprality of planes .andilift- V:to

,' therewith.' .e

"'.their' supporting shaftspassed through- ."shaftsfrand'lJa-end valso through a cut-out portion 1 1 (Fi .8) in" each of the shafts 5.

herotationo the shafts and the shafts '3 and ltrotate the, respective. propellersgand the-. reciprocaton of-the shafts 5 'isdesigned totirnfthepropellers sov that the blades on theirdownwardstroke will strike flatwise against the...a ir, and will strike edgewise against the air on their upward stroke. This each of-the shafts of the ropellers into a. receiving socket 13 formed) in each of the shafts 5. The respective shafts 5 are moved back and forth in proper timed relationship l to'the shafts 3 and 4 so asA to cause the blades of the Propellers to operate'as just set forth. This movement' of shafts is caused by cams 14,., ai1d '15,- (Figs. 6 and -7), which'act on :pins 38, and cause a roper reciprocatory movement of shafts 5 or causing the blades of the propellersl on their downward stroke tio-strike' the-'air fl-atwise or only partially 'tlatwise according to the positron ofthe cams. Each of .the'cams 14 and 15 are provided with cam surfaces-16 and 17 so as to positively moveA the` pins 8 backend forth `as dpslred. -When lifting the air ship the I en'gine 2 is started, and the Propellers and lifting members 9.and 10l are operated, the cams llifand are'brou ht as close together as 'theyrare permitted y'pins 8, so as to -cause the propelle'rs 9 and 10 to act only as' .lifti'n members. After the ship has been raise to the proper elevation, and itis decarrying-and operating pro t elle/rs.

sired to' move the same forward the cams is .accomplished bypins l2 projecting from 14'aiid 15 are movea'apart graduali` zand. as the cams are moved apart rings 18 and 19 are gether, sothat thepiii's 8.will be shafts 5 will be heldfagainst'reciprocation;

44As lWill be evident the moving part of the ca ms 14 and 15 will .cause 'a loose motion between th saine and -pins 8, so that in actual A. zo

` nected by a pin 32- operating in a slot A33 in' operationitvis desirable to move the cams' and sliding rings 18 and.19 as quickly as will be'permittedby the progress of the ship .through .the air. In order to' permit a corn- 'gi-atively quick changing ofthe operation thepropellers 9 and 10 a. plurality of planes 2O are Cam.15 is connected to tocam 14- by a bar 22, so that the cams and rings can-operate in rality of links' 23,

'and also connected to pins pass through the respective andA intoV cams l14v and 15.

-by a pin 29 which slides in aslot 30'-fornied in aii Vupright 31. "Links 25 and 2G are coniiprightl, so that all of the links are operated .properly for pulline apart or pulling together tlie cams 14 and 15. In order to properly operate. therespective links, link 25 is formed with a handle 34 which extends downward into proximity to the operator. cam mechanism, as shown in'F-igs. 6 and 7, is positioned on each of the shafts 3 and 4, so as to operate t-lie same independently.

. Arranged at the top of the framework 1 are a plurality of planes 20 set at an angle, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, and ar rangedwith side iiieii'ihers 355-35 for in- -elosingthe air-beneatlitlie planes. In order to prevent the air pressing against the planes 20 from injuring'tlie framework suitable braces 36 and 37 are provided which extend -from tlieccntral part of the ship iii opposite directions at an incline so as to tie strongly together all of the parts of the -framework.

Each of the planes 2O is secured to a cross bar 38 at its upper eiid'and to a cross bar 39 .at its lower end so as .to he inclined from the horizontal. In moving-the ship the saine is moved in the direction of the arrow. so that the air will press against the vertically positioned curtains 40 and 41 pivotally secured .and also the curtains 40 'or opened as and the freeiprocating' "the" same in that closed byl .pulling sustaining power o rovided f or maintaining the ship in theair during the forward move- I nient of the same; ring 1 8 by a bar. 21

and ring 19 .is connected served that alarge number of proper'iinison. 'plu-- 24, 25 and 26 fare con? .441s provided with blades 45 and 46 having lanes 20-, are made some goed qualit and 41 are ma e The curto' cross bars38.. The preferably `from clotli o from cloth of some oodiquality. tains 40 and 4lA are also with a framework cross bar 3 8, and designed to be'operated by in addition ii'o vi de' d l hinged -in position on cables 42.-'42 and 43-43. ,'Each of thefcun. l

tains 40 on the front 'part ofthe' ship is o' -41- curtains 41 is -so that either o desired..` Ordinari 'v51 operated, by a. singleeord-43 the curtains ma be close trolling cords 42;-42' and '43-.43 are.' permitted to remain loose so thatthe. pressure of the air against the curtain side of the ship'may have the curtains closed Willmove the -sa'me'back against the planes 20, andhold position until positively. upon'the o0l'd's. Eitheifor depriving thatpartof the ship ofthe.

its planes, and consequently v'ary the.'.direction'of'travel:oft the i ship.` By this means theship if desired may be steered bymanipulat-ing the various cur- 'taiiis 40 and v41, though .a regular steering.

apparatusis provided as .hereinafter def scribed. By' this `arrange'ir-ient it'-will be 0b- 'planes-l .are

provided without enlarging the amework undiily, and also the air' pressure of the planes vis under constant control' by the op erator. L In order to positively ro erly guide the P The'rudder their supporting axles passing through a rotating shaft 47 which in turn has positioned 'therein a sliding bar or shaft similar to thev 51 and 52 similar to cams-14 and 15 are pro' vided upon shaft 47,. andact ina similar manner to camsl` 14 and l5, and will there;

fore need no lfurther description. Connectl ed with cams 51 and 52-are a plurality of links similar to the links 23, 24, 25 and 26, having a handle 53 similar to handle 34. In operation guiding rudder-44 is rotated alment of cams 51aiid 52 the blades 45 and 4G may be caused to engage the air lativise on either side of shaft 47 aszdesiredfandconseqiiently'force the machine in any desired d1- i'ection. For instance, if the guiding rudder 44 was being rotated as indicated by the ar'- row inFig. 2 and the blades set to operate .ways in tlie saine direction, but by tlie movenaald turn to the left Thiswould force the rear of the machine to t1on the rotary movement of the shaft causes a lifting of the forward at an angle for permittlng the planes 2O to act betteragainst side 'of the machine are ,This will give a direct lift part. of the sh1p,

the propellers except when positioned in pellers and lifting members 9 and 10, as upon 976,709 3 in the direction shown in Fig. 2, the machine -as the blades would act against the air on the ,inside 0f the Inachine, and consequently force the rear of the i machine to the right. If it is desired to i move the machine tothe right cams 51 and 52 will be moved for `causing blades 4 5 and l 46 to be turned so that the 4same will engage the air atwise as they are making their stroke on the outside or rear of the machine.

tially support the same as cor ing to the, speed of the ship. If when suiiicient speed. .has been attained it `is desired cams 14 and 15 on both sides ofthe ship may be moved entirely apart, and rings 18 and 19 brought together for engaging pins 8 for holding'the blades of the propellers 9 and l0 rigidly` in position for acting as propellers only for forcing forward I the machine.

What I claim is:

the left, and co se uently point or turn the machine to the rlght. In--arranging the steering apparatus he same may be either placed inthe rear of the ship or the forward' part of the ship. If placed in the forward and if the propellers are o nly turned partially and held in that posiramewc rk, a

n an air ship, lifting and propelling the framework, a plane mounted at the upper partof the framework, an independent side wing arranged at each side of said plane for forming a partial housing whereby a substantially parachute effect is provided when the shipis being lowered, and' a plurality of pivotally mountedcurtains. arranged in front of said planes, and independent means for controlling each of said curtains.`

3. In an air ship, a framework, propelling means arranged on said framework, a .plu- 4rality of planes arranged at the top of said"Y framework and extending. transversely thereof," said planes being'positioned at an angle' to the-general direction of the" ship butin line with 'each other, a pair of horizontally pivotally mounted curtains positioned in the frontQ of each of saidframes, rigidly positioned side vcurtains extending downward from the ends of said planes for inclosing the air. engaging said planes, and means for controlling the positlon of said 'curtains-for varying the air pressure against said planes.

A4. In an airship, a framework, meansfor lifting and propelling the framework, a plane mounted at th framework, and la plurality of pivotallymounted curtains independently controlled for varying the action of the air pressing on said' plane. 5. In an air ship, a framework, means for raising and propelling the ship,'a plurality portion of the shi-p, and thus assists in holding the ship elevated theair. This action also may be utilized for elevating and depressing the rear part of the ship if desired, though preferably no lifting strain is brought upon front.

.In operation when it is desired to lift the machine from the earth and force vthe same through theair cams 14 fand 1.5 on each set'so'as to causev the blades of the propellers-9. and 10 to-engage the air atwise upon their downward stroke, and then the prime mover or engine 2 is started, which' hasV power-conveyed therefrom to shafts rand4 4'for rotating all of the propellers 9 and 10 at the same time.

to the m'achine, and also a slight-.forward mo."efr=.e. During the lifting of the machine it will be seen that the planes 20 move almost bodily against the air, but as the movement of the machine dir ectlyV upward is comparatively slow, the planes 20 will be of nomaterial disadvantage. The planes also will not affect the action of the blades of the prothfe upward stroke thesame engage the air edgewise vand, therefore will not be acting against confined air beneath the planes. f Afterthe--machine has been raised a short distance 'the lifting action may be continued I if desired. for', agreater distance. or what is preferable',the,respective cams 14 and 1 5 on both sides lof the .machine can be moved slightlv apart forgiving a.' considerable forward -movem'ent as' Well yas-an upward movement. Upon givinggth'e ship-a forward movement the planes, 20 'wil-Laet by pressing. against the air-as is usual wth'planes, and will eventually 1 entirely sup ort the 'ship during its passage through -tlie'ainl or par` F.`C. MORRIS, i' .WILLIE R. ALLEN.

desired and ac- 1. In an air ship a framework, means for e upper part of the of planes arranged at an angle to the general a pair of curtains of said planes,and 

